Posting this blog 16 years to the day after Vern passed … and spending this important week here in Calgary, Canada, honoring both Vern’s and Jim’s passings. Vern died September 22, 2010 … Jim died September 26, 2025 I do find it rather amazing that my loss dates fall within the same week, as do […]
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Vacation Loading…
I will get to see some of my widow friends soon! I cannot wait to give them all hugs and spend a few days catching up in person. But first, we must get there and only one of us has an empty nest. I am looking forward to it, but I have a lot of […]
Another New Chapter…
I recently went to a little gathering for my retirement with my former (!) coworkers. Three of the folks there had retired at different times in the past 7 years. It was super sweet and we talked a lot of shop about work stress, people’s various experiences with the transition from working (three of us […]
A “Weekness” for Dogs
September brings a month of mixed-emotions for me. This week for instance, I was reminded that five years ago, Rich and I were headed from Georgia to a family wedding in Virginia then on to New Jersey to help clean out our family home in New Jersey. We also made a trip to the Jersey […]
Memento Mori
I was over on the Oregon coast Saturday through Monday this past week finally getting to spend some quality time with the Pacific Ocean. It had been since February that I’d been over to the coast. This has not been one of the better years for a number of reasons, but suffice to say, I […]
A Brief Update
Refreshed and back home after a journey with Lola to the north country to visit our old friends, I’ve taken a few days to get back into the swing of things. After eating too much and taking some serious time to relax, I’ve been slower than I’d hoped to ramp up my exercise schedule. However, […]
Falling 🍂
I have always loved fall 🍁 One of our favorite seasons as a family, with the chilly mornings, vibrant colors, coffee, fire pits, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Halloween and, of course, Thanksgiving. I find it amazing how our bodies and souls, so deeply connected, remember the injuries inflicted on them, as soon as the weather […]
September Morn …
Stay with me awhile I only wanna talk with you Losing Jim has brought back many of the feelings I had when I lost Vern nearly 16 years ago. Of course, those feelings never really went away but were tucked in a safe space most days. Perhaps this is a blessing. Both of my men […]
I Think You’d Be Proud of Me…
There’s a trend going around where people are videotaping someone with their birthday cake. As they sit there, their loved ones put a lighted candle in the cake, and tell them what THEIR wish for the birthday celebrant is. Example: “I wish you happiness this year.” “I wish you continued success in your career.” “I wish […]
My “Old Florida” Haven
Last Tuesday brought the third anniversary of the closing on the purchase of my log home in rural Florida. So much has changed since I landed in this place that a friend once described as being in the middle of the middle of nowhere. Some days it does seem that way, but there is something […]
A Rewired Brain
I spent the evening with my mom, who’s just over the 2 year mark on being a widow since my dad died in 2024. The first year for her was chaotic and her health took some major hits so she really didn’t get a chance to even process the whole thing properly. So this year […]
A Change is Gonna Come-A Repost
Hi all. Gary is still out fishin’. I found this older post of his and really like it…thought you might too! ~Mary Moore Hughes As I said last week, I am open to change in my life. I am going to start by working fewer hours as an attorney and expect this may open doors […]